L IGHTINGSTRATEGY
THE CITY OF PERTH
Draft Document: 11th November 2013
Revision: 19th November 2013
Draft for Public Consultation: 17th April 2014
LIGHTING STRATEGY
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1.1 Message from the Lord Mayor
1.2 Background
INTRODUCTION
2.1 Purpose of the Lighting Strategy
2.2 Links with Other Policies
2.3 Benefits to the City of the Planned
use of Light
LIGHTING STRATEGY OBJECTIVES
3.1 Main Objectives
3.2 Eight Key Principles
THE CITY’S STRUCTURE & FORM
4.1 Background
4.2 Spatial Hierarchy
4.3 Lighting Hierarchy
ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL CONTEXT
5.1 Economic Development of the
City at Night
5.2 Social and Safety Issues
5.3 Environmental Concerns
5.4 Cultural & Festival Lighting
5.5 Feature Lighting
COMMUNICATION / CONSULTATION
APPENDICES
IMPLEMENTATION
7.1 Lighting Master Plan
7.2 Lighting and Planning
7.3 Monitoring and Control of the Public
Lighting System
7.4 Maintenance
7.5 Lighting Taskforce
7.6 Implementation Projects
7.7 Good Lighting Practice Guide
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CONTENTS
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Perth is proudly known as the City
of Lights – an honour bestowed
on our great city in 1962 when US
astronaut John Glenn commented
on the visibility of Perth from space
as he completed his solo orbit of
Earth. Since then, we have come a
long way as a capital city. In recent
years, we have focussed on the
city centre being a destination that
is vibrant and exciting – whether
as a resident or visitor. Part of
this success has been due to
improvements to our public space
and the presentation of the city –
both day and night.
The City of Perth has undertaken
various lighting projects as part of
these city enhancement activities,
including feature lighting of heritage
buildings, bold lighting treatments to
tree-lined avenues and the dynamic
lighting of Council House.
In 2012, the City of Perth was
the first Australian capital city
to become a member of the
international organisation LUCI,
based in Lyon, France. Comprising
over 100 members, including 65
cities worldwide, LUCI is now an
organisation recognised throughout
the world in the field of urban
lighting excellence.
I am now delighted to present
this Lighting Strategy which has
been developed to provide a
comprehensive framework for future
lighting initiatives – both for public
and private developments. It’s all
about reinforcing the city image
and economy of Perth at night-
time in line with the City’s vision for
the future. This of course includes
being aware of our environmental
responsibilities and taking action
to ensure Perth remains The City of
Lights in a sustainable and carbon
conscience manner.
Lisa M Scaffidi
Lord Mayor
1.1 MESSAGE FROM THE LORD MAYOR - LISA SCAFFIDI
LIGHTING STRATEGY
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The proposed City of Perth Lighting Strategy reviews and supersedes the Draft Lighting
Strategy dated December 1995 (not adopted by council) and is part of a group of
strategies which provides the framework for the development of the City. The aim of the
Lighting Strategy is to provide a holistic approach to lighting and ensure a safe, vibrant
and exciting city to attract the attention of residents and visitors alike by improving the
quality, efficiency and consistency of lighting.
Perth is a beautiful city with a unique setting and wonderful vantage points such as Kings Park
from which to view the city. By day, the city presents a clean, fresh appeal which dwindles as
the office function of the city closes down at night to the fact that evening activities are too
concentrated in specific areas of the city, while other areas can be perceived as deserted1. This
need not continue to be the case. Planning can and should be applied to the subject of lighting
in the same manner as it is applied to other day time aspects of urban development. It is a
paradox that at present, the capital invested in the daytime presentation of the city cannot be
revealed at night because of poor lighting in some areas of the city.
The unique qualities that give Perth its Sense of Place during the day are;
• The river;
• Views;
• City streets and public spaces;
• Built form:
• Landscaping.
The challenge for the implementation of this strategy is to encapsulate the unique qualities of
Perth by day and transfer these into a night time environment to cater for residents, workers,
tourists and visitors alike. Lighting will play a key role in shaping the perception of future retail
environments, and in attracting more residents into the city.
1.2 BACKGROUND
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1 Public Spaces and Public Life, Jan Gehl, 2009
2 INTRODUCTION
LIGHTING STRATEGY
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Sustainability is a crucial topic for our cities of tomorrow,
to a greater extent than can be imagined. With global
warming and climate change an accepted fact by
most people, the dangers to our economy and way
of life are becoming real not just speculation as in the
recent past. The increasing demand for power and the
impending increase in the cost of power is going to
become a trigger for local authorities to take a new and
sustainable approach to power management.
Apart from heat pollution created by buildings in
cities, there is also light pollution, where an excessive
amount of light is used to light buildings and streets.
Depending on building design, the energy used for
the interior lighting of buildings accounts for a major
proportion of the total interior energy usage. For a
city the size of Perth, total greenhouse gas emissions
relating to corporate buildings amounts to 78% of
total greenhouse gases generated by the city with
external road and street lighting accounting for some
14% of total green house gas emissions. A significant
percentage of energy directed into road/street lighting
is reflected upward into the night sky producing what
is described by the Perth Astronomical Observatory as
‘light pollution’.
Efficient lighting sources and techniques will be a major
consideration of this strategy and could result in the use
of less electricity as well as cost savings for the City and
reducing greenhouse gases and light pollution.
2.1 PURPOSE OF THE LIGHTING STRATEGY
• Capital City Perth: A 10 Year
Strategy for the Perth City Area
• An Urban Design Framework –
A vision for Perth 2029
• Foreshore Structure Plan
• Perth Performing Arts Precinct
Master Plan
• Forrest Place Master Plan 2008
• Crime Prevention through
Environmental Design
• City Planning Scheme
• Economic Development
Strategy 2010
• City of Perth Safe City,
Community Safety and Crime
Prevention Plan 2010-2013
• Jan Gehl - Perth 2009, Public
Space and Public Life
• What If Projects
A planned use of light will result in the following benefits
to the City of Perth;
• The City can be made more legible and easier for
people to use after dark, thus encouraging more
people to use the city at night;
• Good lighting can make a significant reduction in
the night-time crime rate of an area;
• Energy efficient lighting can achieve savings
in the amount of energy used and a reduction
in greenhouse gas emissions, by encouraging
people to walk or use public transport at night, thus
reducing car usage;
• Improve retail trade and the night time economy by
encouraging citizens and visitors to remain in the
City in the evening;
• Good lighting significantly reduces the night-time
vehicle/pedestrian accident rate, the cost savings
easily paying for the improved lighting. Work by
the CIE studied road accident data in a number
of countries and came to the conclusion that road
lighting reduces accidents at night by 30%1.
• Supports the increases of tourism and length of
stay through activation;
• Highlights unique qualities of the city;
• Provides a stimulus for a more cosmopolitan,
vibrant and interesting city.
2.2 LINKS WITH OTHER POLICIES, STRATEGIES & STUDIES
2.3 BENEFITS TO THE CITY OF THE PLANNED USE OF LIGHT
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1 CIE 93-1992 Road Lighting as an Accident Countermeasure
A recommendation of the 2009 Jan Gehl study is to develop a lighting strategy to ensure that pedestrian routes
and main public spaces are well lit. Presently, only a few streets and spaces in the city have dedicated lighting for
pedestrians and in many streets lighting on the sidewalks is insufficient.
3 LIGHTING STRATEGY OBJECTIVES
LIGHTING STRATEGY
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3.2 EIGHT KEY PRINCIPLES
The following Eight Key Principles underpin the objectives above;
3.1 MAIN OBJECTIVES
Improve the
illumination of the city
to ensure public safety
and enjoyment, and
support development
and growth of the
night-time economy.
Differentiate areas of
the City through varied
lighting.
Engage with the
community to
encourage other
organisational,
property owners
and businesses to
contribute to the
objectives of the
strategy.
Create a nightscape
postcard image of
the City for tourists
by illuminating the
outline of buildings to
make a strong night-
time statement that is
uniquely Perth.
Road and street
lighting planning to
define street hierarchy.
Use light to define the
gateways to the City.
Special events
illumination / ‘Festival’
lighting.
Implement sustainable
lighting standards
in future projects
to reduce energy
and maintenance
costs and to show
leadership in the
community.
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The following objectives have been formulated for the planned use of light;
Discourage crime and reduce
the fear of crime.
Encourage citizens and
visitors to remain in the city in
the evening, improving retail
trade and improving the night-
time economy.
Provide a co-ordinated lighting
infrastructure plan for Perth
that will guide work carried
out by the City of Perth,
private developers and other
development agencies.
Achieve savings in the cost
of electricity, maintenance of
infrastructure and significantly
cut greenhouse gas emissions
to achieve carbon neutrality.
Support prosperity and
economic success – attract
investment and tourism in the
global economy.
Enable a clear understanding
of the composition of the City
at night.
Identify the City as a leader
in good environmental
practice in the use of light in a
coherent manner.
Become the first Australian city to
achieve membership of a group
of international cities (LUCI)
founded to exchange knowledge
and promote a culture of
sustainability in lighting.
Develop a unique suite of
multifunctional poles and
components (PerthPole)
to minimise clutter, avoid
confusion for street users
and create new economic
opportunities.
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4 THE CITY’S STRUCTURE AND FORM
LIGHTING STRATEGY
Corner Beaufort St and Roe St 1911
PHOTOMETRIC SURVEY - CENTRAL CORE
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4.1 BACKGROUND
The earliest recorded installation of urban lighting in Perth was in 1843 with three lamp posts
erected outside a hotel in Hay Street as a security and advertising measure. The lamps were
gas powered and provided a sharp white light from the incandescence of a gas mantle. At the
turn of the century the trend moved towards electrically powered lighting as gas lighting was not
largely popular in Perth. As time progressed and technology advanced, newer high pressure
sodium lamps were adopted as the principle source to illuminate highways, and it is this light
source that has mainly been used in central Perth.
Much of the existing street lighting has been developed for basic lighting needs in a utilitarian
approach. Previous design emphasis has been largely focussed on the motor vehicle, not the
pedestrian, and mainly complies with the Australian Standards, with a few exceptions. There is
however, more to the process of creating a well lit city than just adhering to the current lighting
standards, which should be considered as the bare minimum, and fails to address many
other considerations such as facial recognition and the use of white light with a good colour
rendering and the use of colour temperature as an orientation aid.
In order to position itself amongst international cities, Perth needs highly visible and interesting
contemporary lighting to encourage a night time economy. Apart from the views from Kings
Park and South Perth, much of the City fades into obscurity after office lighting is extinguished
and distant night-time views fail to reveal the identity of the city centre.
The challenge for the City is to implement a strategy that captures the unique qualities of Perth
by day and transfer these to a night time environment to create a robust night time economy
that attracts residents, workers, visitors and tourists alike.
See Appendix A for the Preliminary City of Perth Lighting Survey (p. 66) 40 LUX 30 LUX 20 LUX 10 LUX 0 LUX
LIGHTING STRATEGY
PHOTOMETRIC SURVEY - WEST PERTH
PHOTOMETRIC SURVEY - ENTIRE CITY
PHOTOMETRIC SURVEY - EAST PERTH
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40 LUX 30 LUX 20 LUX 10 LUX 0 LUX
The photometric survey clearly identifies areas that are poorly lit (≥10 lux). It also demonstrates that lighting levels are essentially
random across the city and do not reinforce the structure or centres of night time economy.
LIGHTING STRATEGY
Freeway
Scenic Drives
City Boulevards
City Avenues
Major City Streets
Laneways
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MAJOR CITY STREET
4.2 SPATIAL HIERARCHY
SCENIC DRIVELANEWAY
CITY AVENUE
MINOR CITY STREET MALLS
CITY BOULEVARD
Emphasis of the characteristic pattern which gives the city an image, a sense of place and a means of orientation
is an objective of the City’s Urban Design Framework. Perth has an image and character in its city pattern which
depends upon views, topography, streets, built form and landscaping. This pattern gives an organisation and sense
of purpose to the city and denotes the extent and special nature of precincts by identifying and making prominent
the centres of activity. The pattern also assists in orientation for pedestrians, vehicle users and public transport
users. Lighting can reveal the city at night by accentuating the urban pattern and create a general feeling of well
being and safety, or if it is inadequate it can cause insecurity and confusion.
FIGURE 1Urban pattern hierarchySource: An Urban Design
Framework, City of Perth, 2011
LIGHTING STRATEGY
A LIGHTING HIERARCHY
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Major Public Squares3.5m - 4m, 2500k
4.3 LIGHTING HIERARCHY
Boulevards12m, 5000k
Some of the fundamental principles underpinning the city pattern relates to the city’s overall visual structure and
the role played by streets, district edges, nodes and landmarks. Nodes are areas where there is a convergence or
change of movement, or places of physical character such as a square or piazza.
The pattern of major streets can be made more visible and apparent to users of the street network at night if the
lighting of major streets is different from that of minor streets. The difference between major and minor streets can
be made clearer by varying the apparent brightness, spread and colour temperature of light, as well as the height,
spacing and scale of street fixtures.
Minor Streets4.5m - 6m, 3000k
Avenues / Major City Streets9m, 4500k
Minor Streets Avenues / Major City Streets Boulevards
+_ +_ +_ +_
Major Public Squares
The City of Lyon is a good example where light is used
to define the topography of the city (rivers, bridges,
hills, landmarks, streets and city entrances).
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ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT
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LIGHTING STRATEGY
BEFORE
AFTER
POPULATION-DRIVENECONOMIC ACTIVITY
POPULATION-DRIVENECONOMIC ACTIVITY
NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY
NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY
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A clear approach to lighting is crucial to the performance of the city’s evening economy, specifically its
population-driven industries. These industries mainly include consumer services businesses in the areas of retail,
entertainment, hospitality and tourism.
The nature of population-driven industries makes them oriented towards servicing a given population, and
they require effective place activation and management in order to capture an adequate proportion of visitor
expenditure. Their commercial success is largely dependent on a high level of pedestrian flow and the unplanned
purchases that they can generate; the Retail Traders’ Association estimates that approximately half of all transaction
for these types of businesses is unplanned1.
Improving place management of the city through high-quality lighting that directs pedestrian flow to major
commercial nodes and past shop windows will support the performance of local businesses within population-
driven industries. By encouraging an increased length of visit and by attracting more visitors to the city, the lighting
strategy will contribute to businesses with an opportunity to capture a greater proportion of expenditure from a
larger expenditure pool (Figure 1).
5.1 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY AT NIGHT
FIGURE 1Indicative increase in
night time economySource: City of Perth, 2011
1 Verbal statement by Wayne Spencer on behalf of the Retailer Traders’ Association at the City of Perth Raising Retail Seminar, 2011
BU
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Liverpool, England
The experience of other cities has demonstrated that improvements to city lighting schemes can be a key
factor in reinvigorating a night economy. A study commissioned by the Liverpool City Redevelopment
Authority in 2005, following lighting upgrades between 2003 and 2005, showed that more than one-third
of visitors indicated that the improved lighting encouraged them to increase their expenditure within the
city centre. These findings are attributed to an increased incentive to remain in the city centre through
improved pedestrian amenity and legibility, as well as improved perceptions of safety. The study estimated
that investment in lighting upgrades generates additional expenditure capture of $5 million per annum.2
Case Study
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By means of comparison, the City of Adelaide’s
lighting strategy was expected to achieve more than
$12 million per annum in increased expenditure
capture, and generate related employment
opportunities within population-driven industries1.
Adelaide’s upgraded lighting infrastructure is
expected to extend the length of stay per visit
for one-third of all visitors, leading to significant
increases in expenditure during this time2.
It is reasonable to expect that the City of Perth will
achieve similar increases in expenditure capture by
achieving the following expected benefits:-
• Increased length of stay per visit to the city.
• Increased visitation to the city.
• Increased expenditure capture for population-
driven businesses.
• Greater on-street activation at night-time.
• Improved value proposition for the whole city as a
destination by adding to its point of difference from
suburban centres.
• Reduced costs related to anti-social behaviour
(e.g. avoided property damage, reduced security
measures, reduced clean-up costs) for local
businesses and the City of Perth.
• Improved well-being and enhanced quality of life
for city residents by improved safety, reduced
crime and vandalism, and increased offerings for
enjoyment.
• Increased capacity to host well-attended events in
the night-time.
• Uplift in local property values in the long term due
to the factors above.
EXPECTED ECONOMIC BENEFITS
1 MacroPlan Australia (August 2001). Economic Benefits of Adelaide Lighting Strategy. Commissioned by the City of Adelaide. 2 The Impact of Feature Lighting in the Liverpool City Centre. June 2005. Commissioned by Liverpool City Council & Liverpool Vision.
A good combination of ambient lighting and artistic
lighting for stage performances.
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LIGHTING STRATEGY
environmental design. Lighting is a critical element
of environmental design and contributes not only to
our sense of safety but also to crime prevention and
management.
City of Perth research indicates that 42% of residents,
workers and visitors consider the City of Perth to be
safe or very safe and 41% consider safety as average2
however, there are specific locations where people don’t
feel safe. This is most commonly experienced after dark
and relates to poor lighting, isolation and / or antisocial
behaviour. Examples, taken from the City of Perth Staff
Safety and Crime Survey 20103 demonstrate this:
• 56% of respondents felt unsafe walking/jogging alone
after dark due to poorly lit streets and lack of people.
• 52% of respondents felt unsafe at public amenities
anytime, but particularly at night due to people
loitering and antisocial behaviour. Often these are
poorly lit with a lack of surveillance.
• 39% of respondents felt unsafe in car parks which
are often poorly lit and there aren’t many people
around or obvious security to observe or assist if
you get into trouble.
The same research indicated that increasing lighting
across the city, particularly in dark areas, laneways and
anti-social behaviour hotspots such as the Cultural
Centre, car parks, parks and the CBD would improve
feelings of safety in these areas.
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Improved lighting is closely tied to reductions in crime
rates and improved levels of public safety. Areas
which are well lit and have opportunities for passive
surveillance (or “eyes on the street”) are far less likely
to experience incidents of criminal or anti-social activity.
Lighting also improves perceptions of safety for visitors
to an area, encouraging increased lengths of stay
and assisting in building a critical mass that supports
population-driven industries.
It has been established by Painter and Farrington1
that good street lighting reduced the amount of crime
and were able to establish that the cost saved by the
community in one year from reduced crime was greater
than the cost of installing a new lighting system.
Personal safety is a key concern for us all. Our feeling
of safety impacts on participation in community life, our
mental and physical health. For these reasons, safety
is one of the key areas of the City of Perth 2029 Vision
which states:
In 2029, Perth is recognised as one of the safest cities
in the world. The city is people-oriented, a social hub
that attracts people to its heart day and night. The
atmosphere is friendly and engaging. People feel safe to
visit the city after dark, promenade along its streets, visit
its attractions and use its transport systems.
There is a wide range of factors that contribute to
a feeling of safety including individual behaviour,
media, law enforcement, personal experience and
5.2 SOCIAL AND SAFETY ISSUES
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1 Painter KA & Farrington DP, The financial benefits of improved street lighting based on crime reduction. Lighting Research & Technology 33.1 (2001) 2 Perth SafeCity Resident and Business Survey Report, October 2011, J Hannaford3 City of Perth Staff Safety and Crime Survey 2010, J Hannaford
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East Perth
19%
Transport9%
General5%
West Perth2%
CBD27%
PLACES IN THECITY OF PERTHWHERE PEOPLEFEEL UNSAFE
Whilst lighting alone can not achieve all CPTED
objectives, when used appropriately in conjunction with
CPTED principles, lighting can significantly contribute to
a safer community and the vision for the City of Perth.
Night lighting and safety audits have been conducted
in December 2011 and January 2012, at key areas that
residents and workers identified as feeling unsafe at
night. Many of these were away from central business
areas and key findings in these locations were a lack of
light for pedestrians, as most lighting targets vehicular
traffic and not pedestrians. Some locations lacked
lighting, whist others had adequate lighting for vehicles.
However, this did not spill onto footpaths as trees or
foliage obstructed direct light or lights were too far apart
for pedestrians. These factors created inconsistent
lighting levels and restricted surveillance, therefore
leading to a lack of a feeling of safety for people walking
alone at night.
LIGHTING STRATEGY
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design
(CPTED) is a set of principles that have potential
for reducing crime and unwanted behaviours
throughout the community. One of these principles
is surveillance, and lighting plays an important role in
improving surveillance in darker areas and maintaining
surveillance at night. This can be through active
surveillance such as CCTV or police / security services
or passive surveillance through “eyes on the streets”.
Lighting can contribute to crime prevention for the
following reasons:
• People feel safer in well–illuminated areas because
they can see what and who is around them.
• It increases the risk of offenders being seen,
reported and potentially apprehended.
• People are encouraged to use well-illuminated
areas, which increases activity and thereby further
deters crime and unwanted behaviours.
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FIGURE 2.
Locations where people feel unsafe
The City of Perth Safer Design Guidelines encompass
CPTED principles and include integrated lighting
guidelines for developers. The purpose of the Safer
Design Guidelines is to:
• minimise the opportunity and reduce the risk
of crime;
• reduce the fear and risk of crime for people using
private and public space;
• lower the incidence of crime in the local
government area rather than simply displace it;
• improve the quality of life of residents, especially
vulnerable groups, by reducing their fear of crime;
• create a more sustainable environment by
improving usage of public spaces and reducing
maintenance and crime associated costs; and
• provide public and private developers with convenient
and clear direction on responsible authority’s
requirement with regard to design incorporating
CPTED and community safety principles.
LIGHTING STRATEGY
Interior lighting of commercial and retail buildings accounts
for 58% of greenhouse gas emissions in the city.
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As the city’s residential and visitor population continues to grow, it is critical the City of Perth ensures that
people feel safe to walk or cycle the streets, parks, riverside and other public spaces in the evening to access
accommodation, dining, entertainment venues and public transport. Lighting which focuses on pedestrian needs,
in conjunction with other CPTED principles, is a key contributor to the development of a safe and vibrant city and
needs to reflect the street hierarchy and functionality of particular locations.
5.3 ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
ENERGY EFFICIENCYOne of the primary objectives of the Lighting Strategy is to reduce the amount of power consumed by public
lighting. Existing street lighting should be converted to the latest energy-efficient technology and monitored for
consumption, efficiency and maintenance. The over-lighting of public spaces and buildings should be discouraged
so that the level of illumination matches the intensity of use by pedestrians and motorists.
Lighting is a major consumer of energy in the city with the interior lighting of commercial and retail buildings accounting
for 35% of greenhouse gas emissions and with street lighting accounting for approximately 14% of CHG emissions.
1 ‘Boom Town’; Weller,R. UWAP.
Key principles / guidelines
• Regular schedule of inspection and pruning of street trees to ensure canopy does not restrict light spill for
pedestrians or compromise CCTV camera vision.
• Light and tree locations in public areas are complimentary and should be planned collaboratively between
CDU, aborculturalist, lighting and surveillance staff.
• Lighting in parks and reserves supports surveillance and way-finding by enabling clear sightlines, limiting
entrapment spots and high lighting directional signage.
• Regular and frequent schedule of inspection and maintenance to ensure lighting is functional and effective.
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LIGHT POLLUTIONA significant proportion of the electrically generated energy directed into street lighting is directed upward into
the night sky creating sky glow, and is considered to be an ever increasing problem by the Perth Astronomical
Observatory. Another source of light pollution is glare, the uncomfortable brightness of a light source when viewed
against a dark background. Glare from poorly designed flood lighting of buildings, exterior sports facilities and
poor road lighting can create a form of visual chaos that is difficult to overcome with well-designed lighting.
Inefficient outdoor lighting requires more electricity, depleting the Earth’s energy resources and contributing to
more greenhouse gases and more pollution.
LIGHTING STRATEGY
The City of Perth has presented a number of events where lighting has been used to enhance the experience of
those attending. Events such as the Christmas Light Switch On, The Nativity and New Year have always featured
lighting effects to create atmosphere and excitement, making the events a more enjoyable experience.
Lighting for events has in recent years advanced considerably with imaginative lighting using 3D mapping
technology now possible on buildings and other features. This has been well demonstrated in events such as
Vivid Sydney which promotes a variety of lighting techniques and innovation. This event, which takes place over a
period of 10 days in winter, draws thousands into the city centre around Circular Quay. These types of festivals are
becoming common place around the globe with several cities using their buildings as backdrops for projections and
lighting techniques. The cost of these festivals however can be extensive and their success relies on sponsorship
and public support.
Lighting Urban Communities International (LUCI) recently published a report on the success of light festivals after
contacting 26 cities hosting over 30 light events and looking at 10 case studies from around the world. The report1
takes a detailed look at the qualitative and quantitative evaluation tools that were used to demonstrate the positive
impacts of the festival and concludes that while evaluation methods may vary the general consensus was that
these festivals had an overall positive effect.
To meet the demands for lighting at events the City needs to ensure that the lighting design for the city is flexible
enough to take additional lighting when required for events. This has been facilitated in the designs used in Forrest
Place and at the Northbridge Piazza to date and future opportunities should be considered where new lighting is
designed for an event space.
VIVID LIGHT FESTIVAL, SYDNEY
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5.4 CULTURAL & FESTIVAL LIGHTING
1 LUCI, ‘The Economic and Cultural Benefits of Lighting Festivals, November 2011
LIGHTING STRATEGY
5.5 FEATURE LIGHTING
ARTISTIC FEATURE LIGHTING, SHANGHAI 3D RENDER, TOWER BRIDGE
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BUILDING LIGHTINGLight shall be considered an essential component of
all building design and should at a minimum express
the architectural layering that is present during the day.
Feature lighting can however add new elements and
details to a building façade that only become apparent
after dark.
The lighting of buildings should be based on the use of
light sources that create a clear contrast with those used
for the street lighting. When lighting public and private
buildings and structures such as bridges, the use of
primary and saturated colour should be avoided except
during festival occasions. Saturated colours overwhelm
the natural colour of the materials in buildings and the
permanent presence of colour soon tires the eye with
any surprise factor wearing thin after a while. Priority
should be given to the following features and locations:
• Street corners
• Entrances of buildings
• Shop fronts
• Entrances
• Colonnades
ILLUMINATED SIGNSIlluminated signs on buildings should be in keeping with
the architectural composition of the building and make
a positive contribution to the local streetscape. The
duration of feature lighting and advertising signs should
be limited to reduce energy consumption and deliver a
positive message about responsible energy use.
PUBLIC SPACESStreets extend beyond the property line to include
laneways, car parks, shop fronts and building
entrances. Street lighting is usually designed around
the motor car with the centre of the street more brightly
lit than the edges, whereas a streets layered edges and
pathways are more important to pedestrians. Lighting
at night should help create a perception of the street
space expanding to include a building’s ground floor
interiors, but to save energy, interior lighting should be
switched off after midnight. As part of the City Switch
Green Office program, the City works with office tenants
to achieve energy efficiency, thereby reducing CO2
emissions attributed to climate change.
According to Jan Gehl’s Perth Public Spaces Public Life
2009, only a few streets and spaces in the city centre
have dedicated lighting for pedestrians. In many streets,
lighting is insufficient for pedestrians on footpaths.
STREET EDGESThe dimension of light poles on footpaths should relate
to a human scale and the height of lanterns kept as
low as possible. Streetlights should be located where
they provide good light to building frontages so that visual interest is concentrated on the street edge. Ensure
a holistic approach is taken to major and minor spaces and that lighting turns the corner into side streets and
resolves the junction between one lighting layout and another at intersections. Passers-by are invited to enter
spaces if lighting is continuous and of high quality, whereas poorly lit spaces can undermine the effectiveness of
public street lighting.
HERITAGE BUILDINGSImaginatively designed building facade lighting schemes for the centre of Perth will not only highlight the important
heritage buildings and their distinctive architecture, but will increase heritage appreciation and assist in the
regeneration of the city by encouraging visitors back in the evenings. Such lighting schemes can achieve:
• Enhanced image of the city’s title ‘City of Light’
• Enhances aesthetic appearance of city buildings at night
• A greater sense of civic pride and encourage more frequent evening visits by residents and tourists
• Increased awareness and perception of Perth’s important heritage buildings
FE
AT
UR
E L
IGH
TIN
G
Perth revitalised by the application of low
energy feature lighting to many buildings
49
6 COMMUNICATION / CONSULTATION
LIGHTING STRATEGY
52 53
6. COMMUNICATION / CONSULTATION
The Strategy is being informed through
internal and external consultation with a wide
range of organisations, including:
CRIME PREVENTION &
MONITORING AGENCIES
DISABILITY AND ACCESS
GROUPS
HERITAGE GROUPS
MAIN ROADS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
WESTERN POWERSTRATEGIC CRIME
PREVENTION, WA POLICE
PERTH ASTRONOMICAL
OBSERVATORY
PROPERTY OWNER REPRESENTATIVES
INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
HERITAGE, ENVIRONMENT & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING SECURITY AND
SURVEILLANCE.
CITY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS
OWNERSPUBLIC UTILITY
OFFICE
METROPOLITAN REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
7 IMPLEMENTATION
LIGHTING STRATEGY
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7.1 LIGHTING MASTER PLAN
The aim of the Lighting Master Plan for Perth is to encapsulate the
unique qualities of Perth by day and transfer these into a night time
environment to cater for residents, workers, tourists and local visitors
alike. The unique qualities that give Perth it’s Sense of Place during the
day are;
• The river;
• Views;
• Buildings;
• Streets and other public spaces;
• Character precincts;
• Landscaping.
The lighting strategy shows how these elements can be lit to create a
stronger and more legible urban structure to reveal the city at night.
Good, well-planned lighting can make a city more legible and thus
easier to use after dark for the most vulnerable users, people.
The lighting master plan provides a holistic approach to the city
lighting strategy by looking at lighting from the overall large-scale
city pattern down to the micro environment of streets, parks,
squares and buildings.
Gateways
Night Time Economy - Existing
Night Time Economy - Future
Parks and Gardens
Ceremonial Route - St Georges Terrace
Important City Streets
WEST PERTH
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CENTRAL CORE
Gateways
Night Time Economy - Existing
Night Time Economy - Future
Parks and Gardens
Ceremonial Route - St Georges Terrace
Important City Streets
EAST PERTH
LIGHTING STRATEGY
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BACKGROUNDCurrently, there is minimal planning legislation or guidance on the lighting of private developments in Western
Australia at a State or local level. Existing local government lighting strategies/policies primarily deal with public
street lighting, security lighting and lighting of outdoor sporting facilities. The absence of regulatory lighting
provisions within the existing planning framework has meant that the lighting of private buildings in Perth has
generally occurred in an ad hoc and uncoordinated manner.
The City of Perth has attempted to address this inadequacy. The City of Perth’s draft 1995 Lighting Strategy
recommended incentives be introduced to encourage the illumination of all existing and new buildings within the
proposed guidelines. The draft strategy proposed a Central Perth Buildings Lightscape Plan, which required the
illumination of buildings:
• contained in the Consolidated Central Business District, being primarily located along St Georges Terrace,
between Milligan Street and Barrack Street, but not excluding other prominent sites;
• with a height ratio of 2:1 (building height: street width) or greater.
Each of the precincts in the city were assessed on a finer scale and lighting strategies proposed. The draft strategy
was not adopted by the Council.
The City of Perth’s City Planning Scheme No.2 (2004) currently provides for the illumination of commercial buildings
and public spaces to ensure public safety and to add character to the streetscape. The Council has implemented
these provisions by requiring the illumination of buildings, public art and signage in the city.
IMPLEMENTATIONThe Lighting Strategy will provide further guidance for the illumination of private development in the city. A proactive
approach will be undertaken to ensure the lighting design of any new and existing buildings conform to the
objectives and principles of the Lighting Strategy. Lighting will be discussed at pre-lodgment and development
approval stages for new developments to ensure that the design accords with the Lighting Strategy. Discussions
will be facilitated with landowners of existing key landmark buildings to promote the illumination of their facades.
The City Planning Scheme No.2 (2004) provisions will be reviewed to reference the Lighting Strategy. Guidelines for
developers, architects and building owners will be developed to ensure appropriate lighting on private development
in keeping with the overall city wide scheme.
Implementation of a facilitative approach to the lighting of private development in the city should provide for greater
visual cogency and presentation of the city at night in the manner desired in the Lighting Strategy. To this end, the
City of Perth will need to work closely with the State Government to ensure a coordinated approach to lighting in the
city is achieved.
7.2 LIGHTING AND PLANNING
7.3 MONITORING AND CONTROL OF THE PUBLIC LIGHTING SYSTEM
At present, data on the performance of the public
lighting system is not available. In order to achieve
the following outcomes it is essential that lighting
installations in the city be monitored and controlled;
• Reduction in energy consumption;
• Better maintained equipment
• Compliance with security requirements;
• Infrastructure modernisation
• Better quality service
• Cost controls
To achieve the above, it is essential to improve the
design, monitoring and management of lighting
installations. This can all be achieved through a
centralised lighting central system that allows all of the
public realm lighting to be controlled from a central
location. With advancing technology wireless systems
of monitoring and control are now available with value
adds that can be applied to the network such as Wi-
Fi, Electric Vehicle Charge Points and Parking Meters
integrated into multi-function poles and fed from
mobile phones.
A vehicle for achieving the desired outcomes is through
a Street Lighting Management System using an Energy
Performance Contract. Essentially, the lighting network
would be operated and maintained by a private company
who would guarantee energy savings as part of the
contract. These energy savings could help fund the
upgrade and modernisation that in turn would reduce
energy consumption, allow better maintenance, produce
a better quality service and provide cost controls.
Intelligent lighting systems respond to the variations in
natural light and the level of usage, leading to energy savings.
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5 PM 10 PM
3 AM7 PM
LIGHTING STRATEGY
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7.5 LIGHTING TASKFORCE
A Planned Maintenance regime is needed for the City’s
lighting and electrical assets to improve maintenance
and service delivery performance.
A requirement of the Local Government Act is to develop
and integrate matters relating to asset management,
workforce planning and long-term financial planning. The
City should plan to operate and maintain the existing
lighting and electrical network to achieve the following
strategic objectives:
• Ensure that the lighting and electrical network
contributes to the strategic objectives of residential,
student, office worker and visitor growth by providing
appropriate lighting and electrical services;
• Ensure that the lighting and electrical network is
maintained to a functional standard, based on
appropriate risk assessment processes, as set out in
the infrastructure and asset management plan;
• Ensure that the lighting and electrical network
renewal program is sufficient to provide the
required levels of service based on appropriate life
cycle costs.
7.4 MAINTENANCE
It is recommended that a Lighting Taskforce should be formed for implementing the lighting strategy. The Scope of
Work for the group should include:
• Ensuring that the objectives and content of the Lighting Strategy are made available to all developers, State
Government agencies, planners, architects, landscape architects, engineers and all those responsible for
developments in the City;
• Encouraging and promoting high quality lighting initiatives in both the public and private sectors;
• Having the authority to comment on lighting proposals prior to Development Assessment approval;
• Securing the continued involvement of all parties who participated in the preparation of the lighting strategy;
• Contributing to ‘A Good Lighting Practice Guide’ that defines the basics of good external lighting design;
• Maintaining active liaison with the media and the promotion of lighting as a community issue and benefit.
It is envisaged that the taskforce should be small and comprise the necessary degree of political and business
community influence, design skills, technical knowledge and environmental awareness. It should not become too
large and cumbersome and be chaired by someone who understands and will promote the benefits that lighting
can bring to the development of a night-time economy in the City. As an adjunct to the Lighting Taskforce , the
appointment of a Lighting Co-ordinator is recommended to ensure the effective implementation and control of
lighting in the City.
7.6 IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS
SOLAR LIGHTING DEMONSTRATION PROJECTSSolar or Photovoltaic (PV) lighting, as it is more commonly known, is a technology that is being swept into
prominence by the obvious visual nature of its ‘green’ characteristics, and by society’s overwhelming endorsement
of the demonstration for renewable energy in public venues. The dominant presence of a PV array in streets and
parks typifies our need and growing desire to conserve our natural resources.
LIGHTING STRATEGY
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STANDARDISATION OF LIGHT POLESIt is desirable to adopt a cohesive approach to the
long-term development of lighting throughout the City
through establishing a suite of lighting equipment
components that are distinct to Perth and that will
become a strong unifying element throughout the City.
The current road and street lighting suite includes the
use of conventional galvanised steel poles supplied
by Western Power. These poles do not enhance the
City’s image and their removal should become a
priority in high activity areas. The development of a
new, simple but elegant, multi-functional alternative
to the conventional galvanised steel poles should be
commenced as soon as possible.
In addition to supporting a range of road/street
lighting lanterns, the multi-functional pole can be
designed to carry other components such as traffic
signal lights, mobile phone transceivers, equipment
for illuminating building elevations, banners, signage,
street name signs, direction devices, and support for
overhead catenary cables where required. They can
also be designed to facilitate the use of both high level
vehicular roadway lighting and low level pedestrian
pavement lighting.
These will then reflect Perth’s status as a leader in
contemporary design and enhance its proposed status
as the ‘City of Light’. There is also the potential to link the
design of this equipment to that of other street furniture.
7.7 GOOD LIGHTING PRACTICE GUIDE
It is recommended that the basics of good lighting practice be define in a published booklet. This booklet should
address issues such as glare, light pollution, light colour, and integrating lighting within a building fabric. The
publication should be available to all these trades and professions involved in exterior lighting.
Night time audits of the city have identified the following
areas that should be considered a high priority in terms
of improved lighting:
• St Georges Terrace lighting
• Electronic banners, St Georges Terrace
• Northbridge Lighting
• West Perth
• Wellington Square
• Sherwood Court and Howard Street
• Fielder Street and Lime Street
These projects have been given precedence as they
respond to several lighting issues at once, including
safety and amenity for pedestrians.
To avoid lighting being considered in isolation, these
lighting upgrades should be implemented in parallel with
major capital works projects. Where paving, landscaping,
infrastructure and street furniture are due for replacement,
new lighting should be considered a priority.
The successful implementation of the Lighting
Strategy requires the preparation of detailed
implementation plans by the responsible units in the
City of Perth. These implementation plans should
translate the objectives of the strategy into a range
of specific lighting projects that can be accurately
costed. Opportunities exist for partnering with private
companies where a portion of the lighting upgrade is
funded from the energy savings made.
PRIORITY IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS
ELECTRONIC BANNERS, SYDNEY
8 APPENDICES
LIGHTING STRATEGY
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APPENDIX A. LIGHTING SURVEY
LIGHTING STRATEGY
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